Laboratory Accreditation: Requirements Vary Throughout the Federal Government
RCED-89-102
Published: Mar 28, 1989. Publicly Released: Mar 28, 1989.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined federal government programs' laboratory accreditation requirements to determine whether any had overlapping requirements which could be streamlined.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | The Chairman, FCC, and the Director, NIST, should work together to streamline federal accreditation requirements by eliminating the overlaps in their programs for testing electronic devices. This could be done by FCC and NIST officials working more closely together to determine how the National Voluntary Accreditation Program can best meet FCC requirements. |
Closed – Implemented
Representatives of FCC and NIST have met and concluded that overlapping requirements are currently minor and no changes are appropriate at this time. They also agreed, however, to continue to meet and work together to seek ways which the NIST accreditation program can better assist FCC objectives.
|
| Federal Communications Commission | The Chairman, FCC, and the Director, NIST, should work together to streamline federal accreditation requirements by eliminating the overlaps in their programs for testing electronic devices. This could be done by FCC and NIST officials working more closely together to determine how the National Voluntary Accreditation Program can best meet FCC requirements. |
Closed – Implemented
FCC does not consider its license application process to be an accreditation program or believe that a rule change will relieve laboratories of the minimal policy burden. FCC staff has met with NIST staff, however, and will continue meeting with them to improve the coordination and efficiency of their mutual responsibilities in this area.
|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), should examine federal accreditation programs to determine whether user fees can and should be appropriately charged. |
Closed – Implemented
GAO recommended charging fees for 20 programs that GAO identified as providing lab accreditation services. To date, the federal government is charging or is in the process of setting fees for 7 of these programs. The relevant federal agencies have chosen not to charge fees for the remaining 13 programs because they have decided it would not be cost-effective or feasible to assess and collect fees.
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